Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Johnno’s list: The six biggest bolters in AFL draft history
SEN • October 4th, 2025 3:30 pm
Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson has named his biggest draft bolters of all time.
With the 2025 AFL Draft approaching and Eastern Ranges midfielder Sullivan Robey bolting into potential top 10 calculations after starting the season playing local Under 19 footy, Johnson looked back at previous years at players who made similar leaps during their draft campaign.
“I thought, over time, who have been the best draft bolters and what was the reason why they bolted?” Johnson asked on AFL Trade Radio.
With that in mind, Johnson, the former coach of the AIS-AFL Academy, came up with six players he recalls as huge bolters.
Check out his top 6 below!
6 - Dyson Heppell – Pick 8, 2010 Draft
“At number six, I've got Dyson Heppell,” Johnson said.
“Dyson was considered solid but not a standout. But he went to half back and played well, and played for Vic Country where he went bang and was pick 8.
“It can happen on the run, which is mostly what happens with these players.”
5 – Max Holmes – Pick 20, 2020 Draft
“At number five, I had Max Holmes in 2020, the COVID-affected year.
“He only played school footy in 2019, so there was little to measure him against.
“The chat was that he might go inside the top 50 based on athletic profile alone.
“The Cats rated him much higher, and took him at 20.”
4 – Tom Lynch – Pick 11, 2010 Draft
“At number four, I've got Tom Lynch who was playing under 18s at Sorrento, he didn't start early for Dandenong and only just made the Vic Country squad.
“But in his fourth match for Vic Country, he took 6 marks and kicked 4, and that was the catalyst for him to find form in the back half of the year and was picked up at 11.”
3 – Marcus Bontempelli – Pick 4, 2013 Draft
“Although he played for Vic Metro, he was not in the discussions mid-year as a top draftee, and I was with the AFL Academy at the time, and this is absolutely accurate.
“But then he kicked 10 goals in a game and had 50 disposals for Marcellin. Then he dramatically grows in confidence.
“His Knights form then was excellent, and he rocketed to number four.”
2 – Clayton Oliver – Pick 4, 2015 Draft
“Number two goes to Clayton Oliver.
“In school footy he got injured, played a bit of Murray Bushrangers, but missed the final cut of the Vic Country squad.
“But then he wins the Morrish Medal and bang he was pick 4 in 2015.”
1 – Isaac Smith – Pick 19, 2010 Draft
“The biggest one of all that I personally think is Isaac Smith.
“He started at Redan in Ballarat and in June of 2010 he tried out for North Ballarat’s VFL team and played six games in the twos.
“He then took off playing the final six games in the seniors, including a VFL Premiership, and was drafted a pick 19.
“Well played by Isaac Smith.”
